Welcome to the first issue of the monthly newsletter Beginner’s Guide to RVing from the editors at RVtravel.com.

Every week we’ll tell you how to buy wisely and how to use your RV once you get it.

It’s taken us a while to get this newsletter underway, and in that time I suspect many of you have already purchased your RV, and others have put enough time on the road to know the basics. If either case is you and you do not wish to receive an email alert for new monthly issues, then simply return to the email alert you received announcing this issue, scroll to the bottom and click unsubscribe.

For those of you who stick around, we’ll provide a lot of great information to help you buy intelligently (many RVers don’t and regret their mistakes later), and use your new RV properly — and even more important — safely!

If you are not already signed up for the weekly RVtravel.com newsletter, then you really should. Every issue is packed with helpful news, information and advice.

For now, would you please take a moment to answer the question below? It will help us determine what we should write about to serve you best. Please leave a comment. And feel free to email editor Emily Woodbury at emily(at)rvtravel.com with your ideas about how this newsletter might best serve you and other novice RVers.

Thanks. And welcome!

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QUICK TIPS

What it means to finance an RV for 20 yearsWe posted this article a couple of months ago on RVtravel.com, but it’s probably even more important that we share it with new RVers, especially those who have not yet made their purchase. Please read this if you have not already signed on the dotted line. And if you have already purchased, please read so you can share what you learn with your friends who plan to buy an RV.

Pack your cabinets so contents don’t escape
“How do you store stuff in your cupboards?” asks a new RVer. Fearful that the shifting and bumping of the road would cause grief (and broken crockery), the question becomes, “How do you store your stuff safely?” Our contributing editor Russ De Maris has advice.

Safety tips for new RVers
Before you hit the road for the first time, it is recommended that you purchase and understand how to use the following: (A) Any state- or provincial-mandated safety equipment that you are required by law to carry. (B) Two to four orange traffic cones (these collapse for easy storage) — they are handy to have. (C) Emergency flares. (D) A 6-volt flashlight or any rechargeable light.—Thanks to Ron Jones, AboutRVing.com.

Effortlessly get water off your slideout
In wet conditions, before retracting your slides, raise or lower the front end of your trailer and almost all the water will run off the slide before it comes in. Thanks to George Bliss, Casey Piton, and others who mentioned they do this when their slide doesn’t automatically tilt when being retracted.

Want more quick tips? Be sure to sign up for our RV Daily Tips newsletter, which you’ll get in your inbox every Monday-Thursday. Tons of great tips and information you won’t want to miss! Sign up here.

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Our favorite products for RVersWe’ve put together a collection of our favorite products for RVers at Amazon.com. You’ll find great gifts for your favorite RVer, and great gizmos, gadgets and other handy items for you to make your RVing more enjoyable. And there’s a long list of books we recommend too. Click here to visit and stock up!

VIDEO OF THE MONTH

Click the pic to play the video.

Never, never, never buy an RV without doing this! RVtravel.com editor Chuck Woodbury has some advice you must heed before buying your next RV. This is such a critical step, yet thousands of RVers every year forget to do it, and then must live with a constant hassle that they could have easily avoided. Click the image to play.

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UPCOMING RV SHOWS

It’s always wise to attend a few RV shows before you buy — a chance to compare many RVs in one place, talk to salespeople and even factory representatives, and maybe even pick up a bargain (but not always, which is another story…). Here’s a comprehensive list of upcoming shows.

ADVERTISE on RVtravel.com and/or in this newsletter. Contact Gail Meyring at Gail(at)RVtravel.com .

Everything in this newsletter is true to the best of our knowledge. But we occasionally get something wrong. We’re just human! So don’t go spending $10,000 on something we said was good simply because we said so, or fixing something according to what we suggested (check with your own technician first). Maybe we made a mistake. Tips and/or comments in this newsletter are those of the authors and may not reflect the views of RVtravel.com or this newsletter.

I allow to use my email address and send notification about new comments and replies (you can unsubscribe at any time).

Erinn Mayer

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Just a few days ago, I found a list of “RVing Terms” & what they mean – sort of like a dictionary. I want to print it, and now cannot find – Can you please show me where it is? THANKS!

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1 year ago

Mike Sokol

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I’ve considered reposting some of my basic RV electricity articles in this newsletter. Maybe include topics such as how to pick a portable generator, what the 20-, 30- and 50-amp outlets on a campground pedestal can power, what an inverter and converter do, etc…. Any other electricity basics you think would be important to include?

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1 year ago

Jeff

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I can see a positive thing here with a newsletter that is specific to New RVers. However, as the RVing lifestyle goes, many people who are considering buying or have purchased an RV, have or will do so without doing any research and then make the HUGE MISTAKE of going to an RV Dealership and NOT knowing the difference between a Travel Trailer and a 5th Wheel. These Newbies will ultimately get hooked into something they cannot afford or even know how to operate and eventually will try to sell the RV or simply let it sit and never use it.

Newbies should know that purchasing an RV is a HUGE Expense and should not be taken lightly. For instance, young families with several kids should consider buying something small and affordable, that they can Tow with their existing vehicle (if possible) and not have to invest in a new tow vehicle.

A Newbie checklist for buying, insuring and maintaining an RV should be published for everyone who is considering purchasing an RV.

New RVers need hard facts on what to watch out for when buying. NEVER SHOP AT CAMPING WORLD, NO MATTER HOW GOOD THE DEAL LOOKS! Stay with a Local Dealership or other reputable national dealership.

GET the basics out to New RVers first and then go from there. Too much information at the onset, can and will confuse people and drive many of them away.

The Biggest things to initially strive for is: Expense and Affordability. Slowly spoon feed the New RVers first.

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For the new RVer, keeping the drains free of material that can decompose is an important concept. We come from the garbage disposal habits in our sticks and bricks. I learned to wipe off every plate, bowl, utensil so there is not food residue. When I am ready to wash dishes, I use Dawn Erasing Dish Foam. One sqirt onto moist dish cloth, wipe over both sides of dish, utensil, pot. Stack as you go. When you are ready to rinse, rinse all utensils. I collect my rinse water into coffee containers with lids. I use that water as extra flush water in the bath room. I store 2 coffee containers in bathroom in the tub. This conserves water and keeps the kitchen drain clean. I wipe out the drain screen after each dishwashing.

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1 year ago

Jerry Bloom

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I’d love to see an article on RV short term storage. Draining lines and adding antifreeze for a couple weeks is a pain. For instance; would a 100 watt light left on inside generate enough warmth to keep plumbing from freezing…what about stuff like the HW heater that is closer to the exterior?

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1 year ago

Robert

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Never see an article discussing how to deal with rodents, especially mice, while RV is in storage. Would appreciate any advice available primarily because it is that time of year when people are putting their RV into storage mode.

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